m about
1100 to the Revolution. Sibaud, lord of Clermont in Viennois, who first
appears in 1080, was the founder of the family. His descendant, another
Sibaud, commanded some troops which aided Pope Calixtus II. in his
struggle with the anti-pope Gregory VIII.; and in return for this
service it is said that the pope allowed him to add certain emblems--two
keys and a tiara--to the arms of his family. A direct descendant, Ainard
(d. 1349), called vicomte de Clermont, was granted the dignity of
captain-general and first baron of Dauphine by his suzerain Humbert,
dauphin of Viennois, in 1340; and in 1547 Clermont was made a county for
Antoine (d. 1578), who was governor of Dauphine and the French king's
lieutenant in Savoy. In 1572 Antoine's son Henri was created a duke, but
as this was only a "brevet" title it did not descend to his son. Henri
was killed before La Rochelle in 1573. In 1596 Henri's son, Charles
Henri, count of Clermont (d. 1640), added Tonnerre to his heritage; but
in 1648 this county was sold by his son and successor, Francois (d.
1679).

A member of a younger branch of Charles Henri's descendants was Gaspard
de Clermont-Tonnerre (1688-1781). This soldier served his country during
a long period, fighting in Bohemia and Alsace, and then distinguishing
himself greatly at the battles of Fontenoy and Lawfeldt. In 1775 he was
created duke of Clermont-Tonnerre, and made a peer of France; as the
senior marshal (cr. 1747) of France he assisted as constable at the
coronation of Louis XVI. in 1774. His son and successor, Charles Henri
Jules, governor of Dauphine, was guillotined in July 1794, a fate which
his grandson, Gaspard Charles, had suffered at Lyons in the previous
year. A later duke, Aime Marie Gaspard (1779-1865), served for some
years as a soldier, afterwards becoming minister of marine and then
minister of war under Charles X., and retiring into private life after
the revolution of 1830. Aime's grandson, Roger, duke of
Clermont-Tonnerre, was born in 1842.

Among other distinguished members of this family was Catherine (c.
1545-1603), only daughter of Claude de Clermont-Tonnerre. This lady,
_dame d'honneur_ to Henry II.'s queen, Catherine de' Medici, and
afterwards wife of Albert de Gondi, due de Retz, won a great reputation
by her intellectual attainments, being referred to as the "tenth muse"
and the "fourth grace." One of her grandsons was the famous cardinal de
Retz. Other noteworthy members of coll